Wellington, Fla. – March 14, 2019 – The FEI Nations Cup competition continued in Wellington Thursday, starting with the CDI-U25 Grand Prix. Nine youth riders from three countries returned to the stadium to vie for the coveted individual gold medal that the class offered. Once again scoring over 70 percent, the United States’ Lauren Asher took the top placing and was named the new individual U25 gold medalist.

Naima Moreira Laliberte, Lauren Asher and Kerrigan Gluch

Twenty-two-year old Lauren Asher and West Side, a 16-year-old KWPN gelding (Florett As–Marina, Equador), earned a score of 70.051 percent to secure their victory. They improved from their second place finish in yesterday’s Intermediate II 16-25. Asher, who is from Denver, Colorado, and West Side only made their international debut together this year and they won Week 7’s CDI-U25 Grand Prix Freestyle.

Lauren Asher and West Side

Canada’s Naima Moreira Laliberte and I Do Kiss, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood stallion (French Kiss–Idonna, Donnerfly) finished in the second position to earn the individual silver medal, scoring a 69.564 percent. The pair placed first in the previous day’s Intermediate II 16-25 class for the team medals, earning a personal best score of 71.706 percent. Having only started their partnership last year, Laliberte was excited to see such progress as a team and go home with a medal.

On her expectations:“I always try to come into competition with an open mind. I think when everyone competes they want to do their absolute best, but I never have the attitude that ‘hey, I want to be on top.’ I don’t want to put an expectation on it, I just want to have the best possible ride I can with the horse at that moment. So if it works out that’s great and the past two days it’s been a great relief to come out on top. I try to keep a positive attitude and if it happens that’s great but I think first and foremost I try to keep it positive with my horse and do our personal best.”

Lauren Asher and West Side

On what lead to her success today:“I think it’s a compilation of things. Being prepared, having a good set up even before the competition begins, the management at home — I am really fortunate to have a super team behind me, so as a rider we always want to do our best but it’s not just the riders. It’s the vets and the grooms and the parents or whoever support you, and that has been the case for me the past couple of weeks. I feel like [West Side] has been so super in the training and it is all coming together at the right time.”

On tomorrow night’s class:“The music to me is really special. It will be a fun experience for me to come out and also have the added atmosphere with the lights, I think it will be a really fun experience.”

On I Do Kiss:“I found him in Germany. There was something in him that touched my heart and for me, that is the most important thing when you find a partner — He had never shown so I was the first one to get him and the road was quite difficult and long. We went back to the basics, gave him some downtime and let him relax. He came together at the right time and that’s it. He’s worth putting the time and investment into and today it’s amazing to see him grow and improve like that. I am really proud of him and us. It is the best reward I can get this weekend.”

Naima Moreira Laliberte and I Do Kiss

On her career plans:“Right now my life is horses, and that is the only way to make it to your goals. I have a life and friends and family that are outside of horses and it keeps me balanced so I appreciate that aspect, I think it’s important for me.”

On tomorrow nights class:“I am looking forward to it, it will be the first time I am riding at night as well, so hoping to focus on the test and that all goes well.”

Kerrigan Gluch – CDI-U25 Grand Prix Individual bronze medalist

On Bolero:“As Lauren said, it’s a lot of the work at home, the show ring is just kind of showing the judges what you can do and what you have practiced. Bolero is the most honest horse I have had the opportunity to work with yet. He at home, in the show ring, on the trails is the same horse. I never have to worry that he will bat an eyelash the wrong way so I think that is the best thing about him and that makes going and doing a Grand Prix test not easy, but more enjoyable. You never have to worry about various things that could go wrong, you know what you are getting and that is super, especially since he is a stallion.”

Kerrigan Gluch and Bolero CXLVIII

On medaling:“It’s an amazing feeling. It’s a personal best score with him so far so that is an awesome feeling and something I have been working hard for a few years now. To be on the podium is awesome, it just shows all the hard work you put in and the results behind it.”

On her career plans:“As of right now, I am going to school on the side, I am a business major at FAU, but my main focus is horses and I would like to see where it could take me.”

On tomorrow night’s class:“For me, it will be my first time under the lights in the freestyle, so just to be in that atmosphere with the people and the energy is always really awesome. Just focusing on going out and having a fun time and a clean test, it should be fun.”

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